Two causes come up most. First, the two handsets may be on different networks or different masts, which is ordinary roaming behaviour. Second, band support differs between models, and even the same model bought in different markets can differ. On top of that, how many people share the cell in that minute matters. None of it is something a plan controls.

Yes, and it is normal. In automatic mode the phone picks from whatever it is entitled to use and finds, and it may change as you move between cities or cross a border. You generally need do nothing, except when it sticks on a weak network — which an airplane-mode toggle, or a temporary manual pick followed by a return to automatic, usually clears.

First separate a settings problem from a network one. Confirm the travel profile has data roaming on and is set as the data line, then toggle airplane mode for ten seconds. If nothing changes, try selecting a network manually from the list on the plan page. If you have done all of that and still have no service, contact us with your order number, the country you are in, and the names the phone's scan returned.

Not necessarily. The icon only reports which technology the phone is attached to. Real speed still depends on how many people share that cell, how far away it is, and what you are connecting to at the far end. In a crowded district, a 4G attachment on a quieter mast can feel better.

Not always. The regional name is a marketing label; what binds is the country list printed on the plan page. Compare that list against your real route country by country, layovers included. If one is missing, plan on Wi-Fi for that stretch or buy a separate plan to cover it.